Beach lounge



JIM

Oct. 22, 1957 Filed "001;. 14, 1954 BEACH LOUNGE Bradshaw Jacob, Nichols, Conn.

Application October 14, 1954, Serial No. 462,218

4 Claims. (Cl. 155-153) This invention relates to a beach lounge, and has for an object to provide a simple and effective construction for this type of device which may be made of tubular light-weight material, such, for example, as plastic, aluminum, or light-weight alloys, and which may be readily knocked down or folded into a short space for carrying in a car to the beach or on a picnic, or readily stored when not in use, and can be readily set up for use.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which provides an effective and comfortable back rest or support for use while lounging on the beach, for example, and also, if desirable, to provide a sunshade.

A further object is to provide a construction and arrangement in which the flexible fabric material used for the back rest or sunshade may be of towelling or similar material which may be easily removed from the supporting frame of the device and used for drying a bather after bathing, and then readily returned to the supporting frame where it is kept out of the sand or other dirt and is held so that it is quickly dried.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the device;

Fig. 2 is a side view;

Fig. 3 is a detail section substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction;

Fig. 5 is a front view looking from the right of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a side view showing the device of Figs. 4 and 5 in folded or collapsed condition.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the device comprises an open frame 10 comprising a pair of laterally spaced side portions each including vertically spaced substantially horizontal upper and lower members 11 and 12 respectively, with an inclined intermediate side member 13 extending between these upper and lower members and connecting the rear end of the upper member by a suitable bend 14 with the forward end of the lower member 12 by a suitable bend 15. The forward ends of the upper members 11 are connected by a cross member 16, and the rear ends of the lower members 12 are connected by a cross member 17. The frame is made up of a plurality of tubular members connected by telescoping joints or connections 18 and 19. The location of these telescoping connections may be at different points in the frame, and the number of different parts in the frame may be varied, but in the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2 it is shown with the frame in four pieces, comprising the upper members 11 and 16 forming a substantially U- shaped piece, the lower member comprising the members ice 12 and 17 also of substantially U shape and having upwardly and rearwardly inclined ends 20, and the intermediate side pieces 13 having a forwardly extending short end piece 21. The telescoping joints 18, therefore, connect the rear ends of the side members 11 with the forward ends of the short upper end portions 21 of the side members 13, while the joints or connections 19 connect the lower ends of the side members 13 with the short upwardly and rearwardly inclined portions 20 of the lower members 12. After these parts are assembled, it will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 that the frame is an open substantially Z-shaped frame, with the lower bar formed by the members 12 and 17 forming the base of the frame for seating and supporting it on the sand or other ground support, the upper bar comprising the members 11 and 16 forming an overhanging portion, which may form a support for the canopy or sunshade, and the intermediate or connecting bar comprising the side members 13, which may form a support for a back rest of suitable flexible fabric or other material.

This flexible fabric, indicated at 22, is preferably in the form of an open sack or of tubular form, and also preferably open at both ends, although it could be used open at one end only. By this construction it may be slid by an open end backwardly over the upper overhanging portion of the frame comprising the members 11 e and 16 and down over the side members 13, with a lower end 23 terminating at the forward end of the lower portion of the frame comprising the members 12 and 17. In this position it extends between and closesthe space between the side members 13 and forms a comfortable inclined back rest for a person sitting on the sand, or a blanket or pillow placed on the sand, and the portion 24 on the frame members 11 and 16 forms a canopy or sunshade over the person using the device. If the forward end of member 22 is also open, which is the preferred arrangement, this upper portion may be slid backwardly more or less on the top or canopy portion of the frame to adjust the length of the shade or canopy, or to eliminate it entirely, by pushing the forward edge back to a point adjacent the upper end of the side members 13. This flexible tubular sack or cover may be of various suitable flexible fabric material, but it is preferably made of a towelling or similar material, as such material is soft and comfortable to the user, and it may be readily removed from the frame both in taking down the device for collapsing as in carrying, and particularly such material may be withdrawn from the frame and used by a bather as a towel, for drying after bathing, and then returned to the frame Where it is held in the expanded or taut condition in which it will dry quickly and also is supported and kept out of the sand and kept clean.

it will be seen that in this form of the device the frame is of very simple construction, comprising only the four tubular members, the upper substantially U- shaped member comprising the upper members 11 and connecting member 16, the lower substantially U-shaped member comprising the side members 12 and connecting member 17 and the upwardly and rearwardly inclined side members 13. In assembling it is merely necessary to place the lower member on the ground or sand and telescope the lower ends of the side members 13 with the upper ends of the short upwardly extending portions 20, then telescope the free ends of the side members 11 with the upper or forward ends of the short portions 21 of the side members 13. Then the fabric covering or sack 22 may be readily slid into place over the upper members and the side members 13.

To help retain the side members 12 in proper spaced relation and prevent their spreading or contractingcloser together, a transversely extending brace or connecting b'ar 25 may be provided connecting the forward end portions of the side members 12. This could be a relatively small red wrapped at its opposite'ends 26 about the side members 12. Also to prevent the device from sliding on the sand or supporting ground and to provide a better support for one using the device to prevent it from sliding backwardly, a pair of downwardly projecting holding members 27 may be provided for the rear bar 17 of the frame. In the preferred form these are triangular members, as indicated, welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bar 17 and with a point projecting downwardly therefrom so as to embed itself in the sand.

The modified form of Figs. 4, and 6 is of essentially the same shape as that of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and is used in the same manner. The main difference, however, is that instead of using the telescoped joints 18 and 19 for connecting the upper and lower portions of the frame to the intermediate upwardly and rearwardly inclined connecting members, these upper and lower portions of the frame are pivoted respectively to the upper and lower ends of the intermediate or side members of the frame, so that when taking down or collapsing the device, instead of disconnecting the members forming the frame, the upper and lower members are merely folded onto the opposite sides of the intermediate members. Thus in this form of the device the upper portion of the frame is of substantially U-shape comprising the laterally spaced side members 28 and the cross member or bar 29 connecting the forward ends of these side members. The lower portion of the frame is also of substantially U shape comprising laterally spaced side members 30 connected by the rear cross member 31 connecting the rear ends of these side members 30. The rear ends of the upper side members 28 and the forward ends of the lower side members 30 are connected by the laterally spaced upwardly and rearwardly inclined intermediate side members 32 corresponding to the side members 13 of the first form. However, instead of telescoping joints 18 and 19 connecting the upper and lower U-shaped members to the side members, the upper portion is pivotally connected to the upper ends of these side members, as indicated at 33, while the forward ends of the U-shaped member are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the side members 32, as indicated at 34. To add more stiffness to the frame and retain the side members 32 in proper spaced relation, the upper ends of these members are connected by a piece of transverse tubing or a rod 35 connected to the members 32 by any suitable means such, for example, as the bolts 36, and the lower ends of the bars 32 are connected by a similar rod or tube 37 secured to them by suitable bolts 38. The tube 35 is placed on the forward sides of the side members 32 and thus spaced forwardly somewhat from the pivotal connection 33 so as to form a support for the upper or canopy portion comprising the members 28, as shown in Fig. 4. Similarly the tubular member 37 at the lower end of the members 32 is placed on the rear side thereof and spaced backwardly from the pivotal connection 34 so as to rest on the lower members 30 and support the side members 32 in the proper upwardly and backwardly inclined position. Also it is preferred that the upper end portions of the side members 32 be offset or bent backwardly somewhat, as indicated at 39, and similarly their lower ends oifset or bent forwardly somewhat, as indicated at 40, so as to shift the pivotal connections 33 and 34 backwardly and forwardly respectively somewhat out of the plane of the side members 32, so that when the upper portion comprising the members 28 are folded backwardly onto the back of the side members 32, as indicated by the dotted lines, and the lower portion comprising the side members 30 may be folded onto the front side of the member 32, also indicated by the dotted lines, and also shown in full line position in Fig. 6, they or connecting member 3lvmay also be provided with the pointed holding members 27, the same as in the first form.

It will be seen that this-modified form is essentially substantially the same as that of Figs. 1 and 2 in that it has the same generally Z-shaped frame comprising the vertically spaced upper and lower substantially horizontal members 28 and 30, the members 28 being connected at their forward ends by the transverse member 29, while the rear ends of the members 30 are connected by the transverse member 31, and the intermediate laterally spaced upwardly and rearwardly inclined side members 32 extend between and connect the rear ends of the members 28 and the forward ends of the lower members 30, the same as in the first form. The pivotal connections 23 and 34 could be detachable by means such as bolts so that the upper and lower portions of the frame could be detached from the intermediate side members 32 in collapsing or knocking down the device, the same as in the first form, but it is prefered to merely fold the upper and lower portions of the frame onto the back and forward sides of the intermediate members 32, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and full lines in Fig. 6, as this is an operation which may be easily and quickly performed and collapses the device into a minimum of space for carrying or storing. The same fabric covering or open-ended sack 22 is used on the frame of this form the same as in the first form, and in the same manner. If it is desired to provide a certain amount of decoration, one end of this sack or covering may be provided with a few tassels 41 at the front of the canopy or sunshade, but of course these may or may not be provided as found desirable.

The members of the frame may be made of various materials, but they are preferably tubes made of plastic or aluminum or light-weight alloys so that the whole device will be of light weight and readily carried. It will be clear that it may be easily assembled or disassembled and placed in a small bundle for carrying and storage, and it will provide a comfortable back rest or support for one lounging on the beach, or at a picnic, and it may or may not be used to provide a canopy or sunshade as desired. An important feature is a construction of frame whereby may be used the open-ended tubular sack of flexible fabric material, and particularly such a sack or covering which may be made of towelling and similar material and may be quickly and easily applied to the frame to form the back rest or support and a canopy or sunshade, which shade may be adjusted as desired, also which covering may be readily removed from the frame for use as a towel in drying a bather after bathing, and then readily reapplied to the frame where it is kept out of the sand or dirt and in an expanded position where it will readily and quickly dry.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A beach lounge of the character described comprising an open frame including laterally spaced side portions each including vertically spaced substantially horizontal upper and lower tubular members with an inclined intermediate member extending between and connecting the rear end of the upper member and forward end of the lower member, said inclined intermediate members each comprising a tubular member pivotally connected at its upper end to the rear end of the upper member to turn about its longitudinal axis and detachably connected at its lower end by a telescoping joint to the forward end of the lower member, tubular cross members forming continuations of and connecting the forward ends of the upper members and the rear ends of the lower members, said lower members and connecting cross member form ing a base, support for the lounge, and a flexible tubular fabric member open at both ends enclosing and extending between and connecting the intermediate members forming an inclined back rest between these members and also extending between and enclosing the upper members forming a sunshade capable of being slid backwardly from these members.

2. A beach lounge of the character described comprising an open frame including laterally spaced side portions each including vertically spaced substantially horizontal upper and lower tubular members with an inclined intermediate tubular member having its upper end curved forwardly and pivotally connected to the rear end of the upper member to turn about its longitudinal axis, the forward end of the lower member being curved upwardly and rearwardly and detachably telescopically connected to the lower end of the inclined member, tubular cross members connecting the forward ends of the upper members and rear ends of the lower members and forming continuations thereof, said lower members and connecting cross member forming a supporting base for the lounge to rest on the ground, downwardly projecting pointed holding members on the latter cross member to extend into the ground to hold the device against backward movement, and a tubular cover of flexible fabric open at both ends slipped over the upper and intermediate inclined portions of the frame forming a back rest between the intermediate members and a sunshade between the upper members capable of being slid back from these members.

3. A beach lounge of the character described comprising an open frame including laterally spaced side portions each including vertically spaced substantially horizontal upper and lower tubular members with an inclined intermediate tubular member extending between and connecting the rear end of the upper member and forward end of the lower member, the upper end of each intermediate member being curved forwardly and pivotally connected to the upper member to turn about its longitudinal axis, the forward end of the lower member being curved upwardly and backwardly and detachably connected to the lower end of the intermediate member, tubular cross members connecting and forming continuations of the forward ends of the upper members and rear ends of the lower members, and a tubular covering of towelling or similar fabric open at both ends slipped over the upper and intermediate members forming an inclined back rest extending between and connecting the intermediate side members and a sunshade between the upper members capable of being slid back from these members, said covering being readily removable from the frame to provide a towel for drying a bather after bathing and then reapplied to the frame for drying and forming the back rest.

4. A beach lounge of the character described comprising an open frame including laterally spaced side portions each including vertically spaced substantially horizontal upper and lower tubular members with an inclined intermediate tubular member extending between and connecting the rear end of the upper member and forward end of the lower member, cross members forming continuations of and connecting the forward ends of the upper members and rear ends of the lower members, the rear ends of the upper side members being pivotally connected to the upper ends of the intermediate members to turn about their longitudinal axes so as to permit the intermediate members to be foldable onto the upper members, the forward ends of the lower side members being curved upwardly and backwardly and detachably connected to the lower ends of the intermediate members, and a tubular cover of flexible fabric open at both ends slipped over the upper and intermediate portions of the frame forming an inclined back rest between the intermediate members and a sunshade between the upper members capable of being slid back from these members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,480,286 Morganstern Jan. 8, 1924 1,701,684 Lee Feb. 12, 1929 2,199,895 Sharp May 7, 1940 2,625,988 MacMillan Jan. 20, 1953 

